St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-08-12
SHOT TO DEATH.
End of a Very Sensational Murder
Case in Utah.

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Aug. IL
Fred Hoptfalias, "Welcome, twas shot to
death in the yard of the penitentiary
four miles west of the city to-day. The
firing party consisted of five men with
rifles. DR.. Hamilton pinned rOSette
over Hopt's heart, told him to be firm
and to look straight at the guns and
death would come quickly. He would
not be mutilated, but would be if he
flinched. The condemned man showed
the utmost firmness and said he fOrgave
everyone, but if he had got fair show
ON the first trial he would not be here
to-day. He came out of his cell Smok-
ing cigar and kept it in his mouth to
the last. He posed as for photograph.
He was seated ON a chair upon a
blanket; sat up firm and straight.
Marshal Dyer gave the word, ''Ready,
fire." The crack of five rifles rang out
as one, and the rigid body of the
dead man retained its pose, the body
falling forward and the chair falling
over backwards and his stiff limbs rest
ing on the rug as when he sat upright.
Two bullets pierced the small TOSette
pinned over his heart, one little above,
the other little below the center of the
rOsette. Death was instantaneous. The
caseis one of great celebrity in Utah
and Wyoming for atrOciOuS circum-
stances. The murder was committed at
Park City, Utah, on the night of July 3,
1880, the victim being John +. Turner,
son of John w. Turner, sheriff of Utah
county. He had started out with two
teams to get work and met HOpt, who
had been in Jail for drunkenness and
horse stealing. He engaged Hopt to
help drive team. They camped to-
ii, III -, Io+ 70
Emerson. The deed was committed
ak. The next day Hopt and Emerson
started with the teams, trading off the
grain in the wagons for whisky and pro-
visions, with the dead body in the bot
tom under the sacks of grain. That
night Hopt
COVER d THE BODY
with rocks and brush and tried to burn
it. The teams turned eastward. One
was sold by Hopt at Piedmont and the
other at Green River. Hopt took the
money and had a gay time with whisky
and women at Cheynne, until Sheriff
Turner, father of the murdered man,
caught up with him and identified
him. In the meantime the body
had been found and identified.
On the way from Cheyenne at Green
River anu DIT ECilO dlttlIplS WcTc llduc
to lynch Hopt, but he was protected by
Sheriff Tuner. father of the victim,
who had HOpt in custody. The first
trial was in February, 1881. He was
convicted, but the United States SUI
preme court ordered new trial be-
cause the judges instructions were not
reduced to writing as required by law.
The second conviction, March 3, 1888,
was reversed OH account of Judge
Hunters errors. The third trial, April
9, 1884, resulted in another conviction,
another appeal, and the United States
supreme court again reversed, and Or
dered new trial because the record
did not contain the charge of Judge
Hunter. Pending this appeal the terri
torial judges refused to grant stay of
execution, and Hopt was about to be
shot to death in spite of his appeal,
when, Acting Gov. Thomas granted a
respite. The fourth trial was held be-
fore Judge Cane. Sept. q, 1855,
resulted in a conviction, appeals as be-
fore, and judgment affirmed. The re-
mititure reached the Third district here
June "a, 1887, and June "a the court
reset the time for execution to August
IL. HOpt having been given his choice
between hanging or shooting, as the
law of Utah provides, chose to be shot
to death, and this final scene came of
the tedious case.